A strong performance from Australia's lower-order batsmen helped save them from a poor start on the first day of their tour match against Sussex at Hove.

The tourists had slipped to 114-5 at one stage before half-centuries from wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and bowler Nathan Hauritz rescued the side to leave them on 349-7 at the close of play.

Sussex's South African seamer Pepler Sandri was their star performer, taking 3-73 from 13 overs.

Sandri got the first wicket of the day when he removed the dangerous opener Phillip Hughes for 15.

That brought skipper Ricky Ponting to the crease but he was quickly dismissed, despite two glorious cover drives, for eight as Luke Wright had him caught by Michael Yardy.

Simon Katich (49) and Michael Hussey (32) stabilised the innings with a third-wicket stand of 65 before a middle-order collapse.

Katich was Sandri's second victim of the day and he soon followed that up with the wicket of Marcus North for one.

In between those wickets James Kirtley had removed Hussey leaving the Aussies on 114-5.

However, Michael Clarke (45) and Haddin made a determined stand and managed to get the visitors past the 200-mark after tea.

Their stand of 114 was broken by Ollie Rayner who had Haddin caught on the boundary by Sandri for 69 and then caught and bowled Clarke three runs later to leave Australia on 232-7.

Once more a rear guard was needed for the Australians and Brett Lee and Hauritz provided it. They added an unbeaten partnership of 117 to help the tourists on to 349-7 at stumps.

Hauritz's innings was perhaps the pick of the day. He blasted 12 fours in his 65 not out as Sussex's bowlers struggled to finish off the tail-enders late in the day.
© Adfero Ltd